If satellite phone rates, mainly Iridium and Inmarsat, have not evolved in the United States., this is not the case in France. After storage removal of products remained on the shelves, new supplies from distributors saw a sharp increase. Indeed, the combined action of Euro decline and French VAT rise obligated to a significant prices increase, both the material as communication SIM vouchers, prepaid or postpaid.
Les tableaux ci-dessous présentent les prix pratiqués par l’un des fournisseurs français les mieux placés.
Plus de 10% d’augmentation pour l’Iridium 9575 "Extreme" (avec carte SIM), more than 13% pour un IsatPhone 2 (avec carte SIM), 16% pour un forfait prépayé Iridium 200 minutes / 6 months, l’addition est lourde.
The Iridium GO! (avec carte SIM) a augmenté de 10% up to 979 €.
All of this is not very positive at the beginning of boating season for boaters who wish to equip themselves to offshore navigations. Satellite phones remaining the best mean to receive weather files and maps in open seas.
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